Pr.: And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, a name meaning ‘the place of the skull’. (Mk: 15, 20 to 22)

(KNEEL AND PAUSE)

All: With a loud voice I cry out to the Lord; / with a loud voice I beseech the Lord. / My complaint I pour out before him; before him I lay bare my distress. / When my spirit is faint within me, you know my path. / In the way along which I walk they have hid a trap for me. / I look to the right to see, but there is no one who pays me heed. / I have lost all means of escape; / there is no one who cares for my life. (Ps: 141, 2 to 5)

Pr.: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, help us to see in the sufferings and shortcomings of our lives a share in Your Cross; strengthen and console us in the belief that we bear all things in union with You, who have taken upon Yourself even our guilt. All: Amen.

(STAND)

Sing: Brave but trembling came the woman, None but she would flaunt the Roman, Moved by love beyond her fear. ‘‘